The Absolute Universe setting has put new spins on many classic DC characters. A preview of Absolute Batman #19 hints that an infamous DC Comics villain will gain new powers his original incarnation did not possess.
Written by Scott Snyder, with art by Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman #19 is titled “The Straw Man.” The opening scene seems to introduce the Absolute Universe version of Scarecrow. However, this Absolute Scarecrow is a far cry from the original despite a similar costume.
The main cover and first five pages of Absolute Batman #19 may be viewed below.
Absolute Batman’s Scarecrow has psychic powers
The original Scarecrow, Dr. Jonathan Crane, was a man of science, albeit a twisted one. A psychiatrist and chemist, his obsession with fears and phobias led him to unleash unique toxins on the public to study the results. By contrast, there’s something subtly superhuman about the Absolute Scarecrow and possibly supernatural.
The scene suggests that Absolute Scarecrow has some kind of psychic ability, as he knows the names of his intended victims seconds after meeting them. He also knows just what fear to play upon to make a man attack his own brother. The smoke he exhales suggests some ability to manipulate emotions similar to the classic Scarecrow fear gas, though it seems to be something else entirely.
A larger question lies in the flock of birds which downs the airplane and kills the farmer. Was this some kind of illusion Scarecrow created to confuse the pilot, or did he command a swarm of crows to dive-bomb the plane? In either case, he represents a drastically new threat for Absolute Batman and Gotham City.
Absolute Batman #19 arrives in comic shops everywhere on April 15, 2026.
